Bowling ball return and storage device



July 3, 1962 J. M. ERNST 3,042,402

BOWLING BALL RETURN AND STORAGE DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR JOHN M. ERNST July 3, 1962 J. M. ERNST BOWLING BALL RETURN AND STORAGE DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1957 INVENTOR JOHN M. ERNST ATTO NEY July 3, 1962 J. M. ERNST 3,042,402

BOWLING BALL RETURN AND STORAGE DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORN EY July 3, 1962 J. M. ERNST BOWLING BALL RETURN AND STORAGE DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 27, 1957 INVENTOR JOHN M. ERNST ATTbRNEY July 3, 1962 J. M. ERNST 3,042,402

BOWLING BALL RETURN AND STORAGE DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6

l I 4 M my 9 w 0)) l 5a /04 1 wl? j 64 INVENTOR JOHN M. ERNST BY M4 ATTORNEY "Patented July 3, 1962 3 042 45. 2 aowrrno BALL naturist AND sronaon nnvrcn John M. Ernst, Shelby, Ghio, assignor to American Machine & Foundry (Ionrpany, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 27, 1957, Ser. No. 699,336 17 @lahns. (ill. 273-47) This invention relates to bowling alley equipment and more particularly to an improved bowling ball storage rack.

In the bowling ball storage racks generally used in connection with a ball return track of a bowling alley, the balls are stored in line between the approaches of adjacent alleys. This necessitates that a player from either alley Whose turn it is to bowl, leave the players seating area, enter the approach portion of the alley, select his particular ball from those on the rack and return to the start of the approach to commence play on the alley. It will be apparent that this process is both time-consuming and inconvenient.

The present invention is characterized by the provision of a novel substantially elliptical ball storage wherein balls are stored in a closed runway transversely to the direction of the ball return track and across the rear of the approaches to the alleys serviced by a storage rack embodying the invention. This arrangement permits a bowler from either side to select his ball from the storage rack While standing in his approximate starting position on the alley approach. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the balls are allowed to gravitate around the storage track to a storage position after their discharge from the return track. In a modified form of the invention, mechanism is provided for moving the balls around the storage track to deliver his particular ball to a player standing in position on either alley approach serviced by a storage rack embodying the invention.

It is an object of this invention to provide a bowling ball storage rack so located with relation to the approaches of adjacent alleys that a player on either alley can select his ball therefrom as he enters the approach 01' While in approximate starting position thereon.

It is a further object of a modified form of this invention to provide automatic means in the storage rack to deliver his particular ball to a player.

An added object of this invention is to provide an elliptical storage rack which occupies less space while accommodating the same or a greater number of balls than a conventional ball storage straight rack.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for storing a maximum number of bowling balls with a minimum amount of interference to the play on a bowling alley.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in View, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation view taken on line 2-2, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional side elevation view taken online 33, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4-4, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention.

' cover 54 and an integral part thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional side elevation view taken on line 66, FIGURE 5.

FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the storage rack, designated generally R, installed on floor 10 of a bowling establishment at the end of bowling alley approach 12. Storage rack R is generally elliptical in shape (see FIG- URE 1) and is operatively attached to the delivery end of a suitable ball return track 14.

The invention comprises a vertical plate 16 fixed to base 18 supported on floor 10. Attached to the top of plate 16 and cantilevering outwardly therefrom is an elliptical channel 20. Tubes 22 are substantially V shaped and secured at the bottom in base 18 and at the top to channel 2%, supporting the cantilevered portion of channel 2t and providing rigidity to rack R (see *FIGURES 2 and 3). A plurality of spacers, numbered 24, 26, 28, 3d, 52, are secured atop channel 20 and are progressively decreased in height such that spacer 24 is the tallest in height and adjacent one side of return track 14 and spacer 52 is the shortest in height and adjacent the other side of return track 14. Arcuate cover 54 rests on spacers 24p, 26, 28, 3t 52, and is secured to channel Ztl such that the side of cover 54 overlaps the edge of channel 2t}, as shown in FIGURE 3.

Tracks 5-6 are shown for convenience as formed in However, track 56 may likewise be separate pieces suitably attached to cover 54-. Plates 6d are secured to cover 54 to give the unit a finished appearance. Rail 62 is mounted on supports 64 which are secured to channel 20. Rail 62 prevents bowling balls from falling off tracks 56' retaining them on tracks 56 if they should be moved thereahout at a speed sufficient to dislodge them from tracks 56. Rail 62; is suificiently spaced from a bowling ball, riding correctly on tracks 56, to prevent injury to a player, inadvertently placinghis fingers around rail 62 in the path of a bowling ball moving around tracks 56. Pad 66, preferably constructed of a resilient material; such as rubber, is secured to bracket 68 which, in turn, is mounted on channel 20. An insert designated generally 7a is fixed to spacer 72 which, in turn, is secured to channel 29 (see FIGURES 3 and 4).

A ball 74, rolling on return track 14, continues onto insert 7t), which is at a lower elevation than track 14, where it stiises or rolls against pad 66 and is prevented thereby from continuing in a straight line path of travel. Surface 78 is pitched downwardly in the direction of spacer 24, or to the right, as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 4. The distance between sides 39 and 82 of insert "it is such that a bowling ball resting on surface 78 at that point is prevented from rolling in the direction of spacer 52. The angular slope of sides and 32 assists in directing a ball 74 resting on surface 78 in the directicn of spacer 24. Thus, a ball delivered onto insert 74? will roll onto tracks 56 which are pitched downwardly from the highest spacer 24 to the lowest spacer 52. Thus, a ball on tracks 56, rolls therealong until it comes to rest adjacent spacer 52 which is the point of lowest elevation on tracks 56. Succeeding balls delivered to my novel ball storage rack from return track 14, follow the same course described hereinabove until they contact the ball previously delivered along tracks 56. If tracks 56 are filled with balls, balls which cannot enter tracks 56 will rest on surface 78, or on return track 14.

In the event that his ball is not directly in front of him, a player standing on approach 12 of either of the bowling alleys adjacent return track 14 can roll the ball resting on tracks 56 over spacer 52 up surface 84 and over sides 80 and 82 onto surface 78 to assume the position of the last ball delivered along return track 14. Each 3,0 a time a ball is thus moved, all succeeding balls aligned on tracks 56 will advance one ball width therealong. This process can be repeated until his particular ball is thus delivered to the player along tracks 56.

A modifiedforrn of. the invention is illustrated in FIG- URES and 6. Referring to these figures, rack R is elliptical in shape but level rather than sloped. The modification comprises spacers 86, secured atop channel 20 support cover 88 which isattached to channel 24} as shown in FIGURE 6. Track 90 is shown, for convenience, formed in cover 88 and an integral part thereof. However, track W may likewise be formed from separate pieces suitably attached to cover 83. Double sheave 92 is keyed to vertical shaft 940i motor 96 and drives belts 98 in direction indicated by the arrows A in FIGURE 5. Belts 98 describe a path of travel around pulleys itltl which are rotatably mounted on shafts 102 secured to channel. An insert ltMzpreferably constructed of resilient material; such as, rubber, is secured atop spacers 86 adjacent return track 14, as shown in FIGURE 5. Surfaces 106 and 108 of insert 104 slope downwardly away from the center portion of insert 104 while surfaces 109 and 110 slope upwardly away from the center of insert 104: giving insert 164 a substantially saddle-like appearance. Guides 112, secured to cover 83 by'brackets 114, support belts 98 against lateral movement.

All other pants ofthis modification are identical in construction and operation with like parts heretofore described in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

' A ball delivered: onto insert 104 from return track 14 rolls down surface 110 and strikes against surface 109 which prevents it from continuing in a straight course. The ball then rolls down either surface 106 or 108 and onto track 90 where it is engaged by belt 98, as shown in the dotted lines in FIGURE 6.

A bowler, standing on approach 12 of either of the bowling alleys adjacent return track 14, engages a switch, preferably foot-operated (not shown), one of which is provided oneach side of return track 14 to actuate motor 96, and retrieve his particularly ball from those on rack R. Motor 96, through the connections described hereinabove, drives belts 98 around pulleys 1%. Balls engaged by belt 98 will thus be moved along track 9% around rack R and over insert 164 until the bowlers par-' ticular ball is delivered to himfrom around rack R. When his ball is thus delivered, the player releases the foot switch de-energizing motor 96 and stopping belts 98. The invention above described provides a simple, efiicient mechanism for the storage of bowling. balls. Its construction may be varied within the scope of the claims, for the particular devices selected to illustrate the invention are but several of the many possible embodiments of the same. The invention is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

I claim:

1. Bowling ball storage apparatus for use with a ball return track of a bowling alley comprising a deflector, means mounting said deflector adjacent the discharge end of said track, a ball storage device having a closed ball receiving and storing track to receive balls delivered thereto by said deflector, means mounting said storage device adjacent said deflector such that balls delivered thereto are stored in a substantially closed arcuate configuration generally coplanar with said deflector and the delivery end of said track and means for effecting the movement of said balls in said configuration relative to said discharge end of said track, said closed track being constructed so that balls at rest thereon can be rolled direct- =ly past the discharge end of said return track.

' 2. Bowling ball storage mechanism for use with a ball return track of a bowling alley comprising a deflector, means mounting said deflector adjacent the discharge end of said return track, a ball storage device having a pair of end portions which extend away from the discharge end in different directions and a curved medial portion extending between said end portions, means mounting said storage device in an inclined manner with the end portions thereof adjacent opposite sides of said deflector such that balls delivered by said deflector from said return track to said storage device will gravitate along said curved medial portion from one end portion of said storage device to the opposite end portion thereof adjacent said deflector.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said deflector has a surface disposed in the path of travel of balls delivered thereto, said surface being operative to deflect said balls in a direction substantially transverse to their direction alongsaid return track.

4. In a bowling alley having a ball return track, bowling ball storage apparatus comprising a resilient deflector, means mounting said deflector adjacent the discharge end of said return track to deflect balls delivered thereto by said return track to one side only of said deflector, a substantially elliptical ball storage track having a high portion and a low portion, means inclinely mounting said storage track with the highest portion thereof adjacent the ball delivery side of said deflector and the lowest portion of said storage track adjacent the other side of said deflector such that balls delivered thereto by said deflector will gravitate from said delivery side of said deflector along said storage track toward said other side of said deflector and adjacent said return track, said storage track being so constructed that a ball can be rolled directly from said low portion and past the discharge end onto said high portion.

7 5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said deflector is operative to deflect said balls in a direction substantially transverse to their direction along said return track and said storage track is mounted substantially transversely of said ball return track.

6. In a bowling alley installation of the type having an approach area and a ball return track, a bowling ball storage mechanism comprising a deflector, means mounting said deflector adjacent the discharge end of the return track, and a ball storage device including circuitous guide means having a pair of ends disposed adjacent opposite sides of said deflector, said deflector operative to deliver balls received from the discharge end onto said guide means, said guide means being constructed to guide balls rolling therealong in a generally curvilinear path of travel and across the point of delivery of balls from the return track in such a manner as to cause a particular ball to move to a point at which such ball can be picked up conveniently by a player, the overall outer dimensions of said storage device being relatively compact with respect to the width of the approach area of a bowling alley.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said deflector is operative to, deflect said balls in a direction substantially transverse to their direction along said return track.

8. In a bowling alley installation of the type wherein an alley bed extends between a pit and a players approach area and including a ball return track having a discharge end at the approach area end of the return track, the combination of a ball storage device, and means mounting said storage device adjacent to the discharge end of the return track, said storage device including track means, having first and second portions disposed adjacent to and extending away from the discharge end in different directions, said track means also inclaim 8, wherein said storage device is arranged so that balls delivered thereto can roll onto both of said first and second portions.

10. In a bowling alley installation of the type wherein the alley bed extends from a players approach area to a pit and including a return runway for delivering balls from the pit to a delivery end adjacent the approach area, the combination of means for storing bowling balls adjacent the approach area, said means comprising an insert mounted at the delivery end in the path of travel of bowling balls delivered from the delivery end, said insert including a medial portion and side portions each connected on an opposite side of said medial portion and sloping downwardly therefrom whereby a ball delivered to the delivery end will roll over said medial portion and downwardly over one of said side portions; and an elongated curved track mounted adjacent the approach area and including a pair of end portions each disposed adjacent to a diflerent one of said side portions, and a medial portion extending between said end portions so that a bowling ball rolling over one of said side portions will enter and come to rest on said track, said insert being so dimensioned that a bowling ball which has come to rest on said track can be rolled along said track in such a manner as to pass from one end portion of said track over said side portions and said medial portion of said insert onto the other end portion of said track to provide convenient access to a ball by a player.

11. A bowling alley installation in accordance with claim and wherein one of said end portions is mounted at a higher elevation than the other end portion and said medial portion of said track gradually slopes from the high end portion to the lowend portion, and said insert includes a deflector positioned to deflect balls delivered from the runway onto the high end portion whereby such balls gravitate along said track toward said low end. a

12. A bowling alley installation in accordance with claim 10 including endless driven means mounted adjacent said track and frictionally engageable with bowling balls on said track, movement of said driven means operative to roll bowling balls along said track and over said insert.

13. In a bowling alley installation of the type having a single return runway for delivering bowling balls to a delivery end adjacent to at least one player approach area, the combination of support means mounted adjacent the delivery end and including an elongated curved track which extends generally transversely to the path of travel of balls rolling from the delivery end toward the approach area through points Where bowling balls resting on the track are accessible to players in the approach area, said track including a pair of end portions and a medial portion extending between said endportions, and deflector means mounted adjacent to the delivery end to receive balls from the return runway and including a pair of sloped portions each connected to a different end portion of said track and a stationary deflector member positioned in the path of travel of bowling balls rolling from said runway for deflecting such bowling balls transversely to the direction of the path of travel of balls rolling along the runway onto one of the sloped portions whereby the balls come to rest on said track, said deflector member being so dimensioned that a ball can be rolled from one end portion of said track over said sloped portions and onto the other end portion of said track to allow bowling balls on said track to be moved so that a player in the approach area has convenient access to any bowling ball on said track.

14. A bowling alley installation in accordance with claim 13 where said support means is mounted at the front of the approach area so that all balls are conveniently accessible from the front of the approach area.

balls, said storage means comprising closed-loop ball storage track means extending past the delivery end of the return runway, to receive bowling balls therefrom, and also adjacent the approach area, said track means confining bowling balls received from the delivery end of the return runway to an effectively continuous closedloop path along which stored balls can be rolled from any position thereon past the delivery end of the return runway to cause a particular ball to move to a point at which such ball can be conveniently picked up by a player at the approach area.

16. An installation in accordance with claim 15 and including driven means mounted adjacent to said track means and frictionally engageable with balls on said track means, movement of said driven means being operative to roll balls along said track means.

17. In a bowling alley installation of the type wherein an alley bed extends between a pit and a players approach area and including a return runway for delivering bowling balls from the pit to a delivery end adjacent to the approach area, the combination of deflector means mounted in the path of travel of balls delivered from the delivery end for deflecting such balls from their path of travel along the runway, and track means operatively disposed with respect to said deflector means for receiving bowling balls directed by said deflector means and storing such balls, said track means having the configuration of a closed loop which extends past the delivery end of the return runway and adjacent the approach area in such a manner that bowling balls at rest on said track means can be rolled past the delivery end of the return runway to cause a particular ball to move to a point at which such ball can be conveniently picked up by a player, said track means including a sloped portion having a high point located on one side of the delivery end of the return runway and a low point located on the other side of the delivery end of the return runway in such a manner that bowling balls received from said deflector means gravitate along said sloped portion from said high point toward said low point.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 924,472 Kern June 8, 1909 1,558,208 Treiber Oct. 20, 1925 2,145,220 Cupstid Jan. 24, 1939 2,175,750 Edwards Oct. 10, 1939 2,788,972 Turner Apr. 16, 1957 2,796,261 Turner June 18, 1957 

